Last Thursday, SF State senior Kristrún Hjartar proved that forks aren’t just for stabbing items on a plate.

The design and industry (DAI) student presented her award-winning composition of brushed stainless steel utensils to an audience of over 150 people in the Cesar Chavez Student Center, proudly calling the short-handed, rounded bottom fork, knife and spoon design, “The Intimate Utensils”.

“I’m trying to bridge the gap between the Western and Eastern way of eating,” said Hjartar as she described the intimacy of eating with hands versus eating with concrete utensils.

“[The Intimate Utensils] are important because it is offering a new and different experience of eating,” she added.

Hjartar is the 2007 student merit award recipient and was one of four DAI undergraduates whose esteemed work was featured at the 14th annual Design and Industry Alumni Portfolio Night on Nov. 15.

Hjartar’s Intimate Utensils project is among many outstanding achievements from SF State’s DAI program, which has won more International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) than any school in the U.S.—with the exception of the Art Center of Design. IDEA acknowledges the importance of design excellence by honoring student product designers and faculty members for their contributions to the industrial arts.

From furniture designs to industrial technology, the three-hour event provided aspiring undergraduate and graduate student designers with an opportunity to view the design projects of DAI alumni now working in the industrial art profession. Students were encouraged to bring their own tentative portfolios for a “break out” session that allowed alumnus, professors and professionals to critique, give feedback and advise the aspiring designers.

“Portfolio Night is a means for us [in the program] to bring back graduate students and give them a sense of identity and continuity,” said Ricardo Gomes, DAI chair.

Gomes founded the Portfolio Night in 1993 with the idea of connecting current students with alumni.

“It shows that we value [our alumni’s] presence,” said Gomes. “At the same time, it lets current DAI students know that there is opportunity, success and vision for them after seeing those who have graduated from SF State.”

Hjartar and the other three merited student participants were later joined by a panelist of six accomplished alumni who presented their current designs and developments while also sharing their and experiences after graduating from the University.

San Francisco based industrial designer Joseph Luttwak, who earned his master’s in product design in 2004, showed his “Travel Guitar”, a portable steel-stringed carbon fiber version of a guitar that was originally conceived to take to the woods on camping trips.

Following Luttwak, 1991 graduate Arvind Gupta gave a media presentation of a device similar to Apple’s iphone. He also provided the current DAI students with words of wisdom.

“If you’re not scared, you’re not pushing yourself enough,” said Gupta.

Luttwak also gave post-graduate tips in reference to the industry.

“Do what you have to do, but learn how to draw,” said Luttwak.

During the “break out” session, DAI alumni presenters and professors sat behind a collection of long tables to conduct mini-interviews. Eager students quickly formed a long line and shuffled through each seat, with 10 minutes at each station.

Although Laura Ladringan did not bring a portfolio to the event, she was welcomed to “stand on the sidelines” and observe the review process closely.

“I like having the alumni speak,” said Ladringan, 24, a first-year Master of Arts in Industrial Arts (MAIA) major “These people were in our position before and to see where they are now gives me motivation that I can be there one day too.”

It was Ladringan’s first time attending the event, but she said she plans to return next year.

“I will come back again when I have a portfolio,” said Ladringan. “But right now, I’m here for the experience.”

While Ladringan peered between the back of heads to get a glimpse of the reviewing stage, Bahareh Sarhangi, second year MAIA, waited in line with an oversized neon orange portfolio hung over her shoulders.

“Portfolio Nights are necessary to go to or else it is difficult to see what jobs are looking for out there,” said Sarhangi, 29. “It gives an opportunity to compare yourself to the real world.”

Hjartar attended last year’s event and says the Portfolio Night and other student outreach activities helped sharpen her design.

“I presented this idea in my portfolio at “Mixer” in April,” said Hjartar, 27. “[The utensils] have greatly improved since then.”

The “Mixer” is a yearly joint event with five other Bay Area schools that have industrial design programs, mainly focusing on senior and graduate level work.

SF State DAI Professor Martin Linder won a bronze award in 2006 for the “CT-80 Explosive Detection System”, an alternative look to baggage screening machines at airport lobbies.